Spool

ABSTRACT

A spool including a barrel having a flange at each axial end is provided with a yarn end retainer. The yarn end retainer comprises a plate secured to one spool flange adapted to have at least a partial yarn convolution wrapped thereabout and a catch member which cooperates with means on the flange for retaining the yarn tail in selected positions. The flange is provided with a radial slot having a base, the inner end of which is flush with the barrel periphery such that the yarn can be directed from the catch member, around the plate and through the flange slot directly to the barrel periphery for winding thereon.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,743,210 Hawley July 3, 1973 I [54 spool, 2,744,694 5/1956 Murray 242/1185 75 Inventor: ohn B. llawle Jamesto N.C. t I v l J Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz [7 3] Assignee: Akron Spool and Manufacturing Co., An0mey ])avid Rabin High Point, N.C.

22 Filed: Jan. 11, 1971 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 105,178 A spool including a barrel having a flange at each atrial end is provided with a yarn end retainer. The yarn end 52 us. (:1. 242/1251, 242/18 PW a l [51] Int. Cl B65" 75/28 adapted to have at least a part1al yarn convolut1on d thereabout and a catch member which coop 58 Field of Search 242/125.1, 118, 118.4, wrap! 242/118 6 H8 61 118 7 H8 8 18 EW 18 erates wlth means on the flange for retammg the yarn 57/34TT tail in selected positions. The flange is provided with a radial slot having a base, the inner end of which is flush with the barrel periphery such that the yarn can be di- [56] References Cited rected from the catch member, around the plate and UNITED STATES PATENTS through the flange slot directly to the barrel periphery 3,003,715 10/1961 Seigle 242/ 125.1 for winding thereon. 2.048395 7/1936 Clinton 242/125.l 2,501,515 3/1950 Hood 242/ 125.1 X 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures =l= l6 1 1 s 1 5 INVE NTOR JOHN B. HAWLEY Patented July 3, 1973 SPOOL BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY, AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improved flanged spools especially adapted for use in the textile industry and it relates particularly to spools for retaining a yarn end exteriorly of the spool flanges.

Various spool structures have been proposed for providing a yarn end retaining means mounted on an outer end of the spool. Examples of such spool structures have been disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,904,282; 1,852,953 and 2,936,965 wherein a transfer tail is directed over a spool flange with the yarn being positioned within a notch at the flange periphery. The yarn end is wound about a projection outwardly of one of the spool flanges. However, the operation of such spool structure has not been entirely satisfactory.

Briefly, the spool incorporates a yarn tail retaining assembly comprising a spring clip and a plate which cooperate with a generally radial slot within one of the spool flanges. The yarn end is held against a spring'like material secured to the flange or within an indentation in the flange by the clip member which eliminates creeping of the yarn. The plate is undercut to retain yarn wrapped thereon. The slot which extends to a depth flush with the spool barrel periphery permits the yarn to extend axially of the spool directly from the undercut plate to the barrel periphery.

The utilization of spools incorporating the improved yarn tail catching assembly has reduced spool doffing time in excess of 50 percent and substantially eliminated down time due to broken ends.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a novel means for securing a yarn end to a spool.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved spool structure for positively holding the yarn tail end on the axially outer end of a spool flange.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a retaining structure to which the yarn tail may be readily applied in an efficient manner that prevents spindle oil contamination.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof and taken in conjunction with the drawings.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spool having yarn end attaching means provided thereon;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the spool illustrating the manner of securing the yarn to the spool; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the bobbin taken from the right hand side of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the spool comprises a hollow barrel 12, adapted to receive a shaft or spindle therein, and flanges 14 and 16 secured to the barrel ends. The barrel l2 and flanges 14, 16 are formed of materials suitable for resisting damages thereto under constant use conditions. The flanges 14 and 16 are rigidly secured to the barrel 12 by screws 18 or other suitable fasteners.

At one end of the spool, a base plate 20 is maintained in abutting relation by the fasteners 18 against the flange 16. The plate 20 which is substantially greater in diameter than the barrel diameter has a channel 22 provided therein for receiving a conventional driving member or bar when mounted upon a spindle. The central portion 24 of the channel is enlarged for receiving a spindle therethrough.

A generally radially directed slot 26 extends from the outer periphery of flange 16 and terminates at a location wherein at least the inner portion adjacent the barrel is flush with the outer periphery with the barrel 12 for passage of yarn Y from yarn tail catcher or clip 28 to the barrel periphery. The clip 28 comprises a spring plate member positioned substantially diametrically opposite the slot 26. The clip is secured between the flange 16 and disc 20 and lies relatively flat against flange 16. A plurality of notches or indentations 30 are formed within the outer face of flange 16 beneath clip 28 for receiving the end of yarn Y therein. The yarn receiving notches 30 under the spring clip 28 prevent the yarn from being jammed close to the drive member and springing the clip and facilitates removal of the yarn end from the clip. The clamping pressure applied to yarn Y by clip 28 may vary depending upon the particular indentation 30 in which the yarn is positioned and upon the stiffness of the clip. The outer end of clip 28 is provided with a lip portion 32 for facilitating positioning of the yarn between the clip and the outer face of flange 16.

The arcuate outer peripheral surface of plate 20 is interrupted, as shown by FIG. 2, to form a straight surface 34 extending normal to the slot 26. The inner edge of surface 34 adjacent the flange 16 generally is flush with the base of slot 26 and the outer periphery of the barrel such that the yarn Y can extend from surfaces 34, through flange 16 at the base of slot 26 and directly onto that portion of the barrel periphery abutting the flange 16. It is to be noted that the periphery of the plate 20 is conically undercut, as indicated at 36, to retain thereon a partial convolution or more of yarn wrapped thereon.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention wherein the length of slot 22' for receiving a driving member is generally equal to or less than the diameter of barrel 12. This permits the size of base plate 22 to be substantially less than that of plate 22 and eliminates the necessity of the flat cut 34, as shown by FIG. 2.

The spool of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a member 38 of spring-like material for cooperating with clip 28 for holding the end of yarn Y. While the member 38 may be of various constructions such as rubber or thin metal, preferably the member is a disc of non-oxidizing, static free neoprene which is unaffected by oil vapor. The disc may be secured by adhesive or other suitable means to the outer face of flange 16 or within a flange recess, as shown by FIG. 5.

The yarn, after having the end clamped between clip 28 and member 38, is wrapped about plate 20' and extends generally axially through slot 26' before being wound upon the barrel 12. The base of slot 26', adjacent the inner portion of flange 16, is generally flush with the barrel outer periphery.

It is to be understood that the spool of FIGS. 1-3 may be provided with a yarn holding member 38, rather than indentations 30, and that in the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 indentations in flange 16 may be substituted for the disc 38.

I claim:

1. A spool for textile yarns and the like comprising a barrel, a flange secured to one end of said barrel, said flange defining a slot therein extending from the flange outer periphery to a location substantially flush with the barrel outer periphery for receiving a yarn, said slot having a width sufficient to permit the yarn to move freely therethrough at said barrel outer periphery, a spring clip including a portion for clamping a yarn tail end portion between said clip and said flange for fixedly securing the yarn tail end, a plate positioned axially outwardly of said spool flange for receiving at least a partial convolution of yarn thereabout, said plate including at least one peripheral portion substantially flush with the base of the slot and the barrel outer periphery, said clip clamping portion being positioned radially inwardly from said flange outer periphery in spaced relation to said plate outer periphery, said plate directing the yarn from said clip clamping portion and at least partially around said plate to said one peripheral portion flush with the base of said slot and barrel outer periphery for axial displacement through said slot for engagement with said barrel outer periphery, said plate having at least one opening therein for cooperatively receiving a driving mechanism for rotating said spool.

2. A spool as defined in claim 1, said flange defining at least one indentation therein positioned beneath said spring clip for receiving the yarn end for preventing creeping of the yarn tail end from the clip area as the yarn is wound upon a spool.

3. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring clip is positioned diametrically opposite said slot.

4. A spool as defined in claim 1, wherein atleast a portion of said plate outer periphery is undercut for retaining yarn thereon.

5. A spool as defined in claim 1, said clip being fixedly positioned between said plate and said flange.

6. A spool as defined in claim 1, and further including a spring -like member secured to said flange and cooperating with said spring clip for clamping the yarn end.

7. A spool as defined in claim 10, wherein said spring-like member comprises a rubber member positioned beneath said spring clip. 

1. A spool for textile yarns and the like comprising a barrel, a flange secured to one end of said barrel, said flange defining a slot therein extending from the flange outer periphery to a location substantially flush with the barrel oUter periphery for receiving a yarn, said slot having a width sufficient to permit the yarn to move freely therethrough at said barrel outer periphery, a spring clip including a portion for clamping a yarn tail end portion between said clip and said flange for fixedly securing the yarn tail end, a plate positioned axially outwardly of said spool flange for receiving at least a partial convolution of yarn thereabout, said plate including at least one peripheral portion substantially flush with the base of the slot and the barrel outer periphery, said clip clamping portion being positioned radially inwardly from said flange outer periphery in spaced relation to said plate outer periphery, said plate directing the yarn from said clip clamping portion and at least partially around said plate to said one peripheral portion flush with the base of said slot and barrel outer periphery for axial displacement through said slot for engagement with said barrel outer periphery, said plate having at least one opening therein for cooperatively receiving a driving mechanism for rotating said spool.
 2. A spool as defined in claim 1, said flange defining at least one indentation therein positioned beneath said spring clip for receiving the yarn end for preventing creeping of the yarn tail end from the clip area as the yarn is wound upon a spool.
 3. A spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring clip is positioned diametrically opposite said slot.
 4. A spool as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plate outer periphery is undercut for retaining yarn thereon.
 5. A spool as defined in claim 1, said clip being fixedly positioned between said plate and said flange.
 6. A spool as defined in claim 1, and further including a spring-like member secured to said flange and cooperating with said spring clip for clamping the yarn end.
 7. A spool as defined in claim 10, wherein said spring-like member comprises a rubber member positioned beneath said spring clip. 